The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-13
TRIP T0A VOLCANO.
Absorption of the Hawaiian
Goddess.
A YOUNG MORMON ON PELE.
The Burning Lake Observation-Disclosures
ofthe wonders Of the World-Near
1g. Approach to Hades.
For TIE SUNDAY HERALD.

For THE SUNDAY HERALD.
On the last day of the "old year, ="
1884. in company with my travelling
companior. Elder H, L set out to pay
a visit TO the world renowned Volcano
KiIanea, the fiery domains of Pele, the
Unsuitable fire god of the ancient Ha-
yaiians. l bad heard so many traditions
of this glowing deity, and of her restless
iourneying in search of a home, and had
seen so many evidences of her presence
IN all the islands, that it was with pecu-
liar interest now contem plate visiting
her in her present home, where after a
| life of wanderings she had settled down
with the apparent intention of staying
After hasty breakfast of the inevi
table POI and fish we mounted our lazy
mules and started out in the dim light
of early morning to pay our respects to
Madam Pele.
The day was squally, and we were en-
ve'Oped in clouds of mist and fine rain
which hid from our view the surround
ing scenery, except that Immediately
first part of our Journey was through
woods of the Ohia tree which grew thick
and tall on the thin soil of an ancient
lava bed. But as we neared the crater.
nature gradually began to lay aside
these evidences of her kinGlier mood
the trees began to be more scattering
and of more scrubby growth, but
whether large or small they bore their
scarlet plumes royalty, lending charm
of beauty to the dreamy solitude.
Not sound broke the almost oppres-.
sive stiffness, except the Gathering of the
hOofs of our animals on the hardened
lava, as we urged them slowly up the
gradual slope of the mountain, and an
occasional native chant with which we
relieved the tedium of the journey. AT
ter several hours labor for man and
beast, the
WILD GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY
informed US we were nearing our jour
ney's end; and, at last, through wild
gorge we caught glimpse of Pele's
home. Pressing forward with renewed
vigor, in a short time we drew rein, per-
haps l would better say, ceased the per-
petual motion of our spur-armed heels
against our mules lazy sides, and came
| to a standsiill in front of the Volcano
House, a low, rambling frame building
situated on the north brink of the crater
at an altitude of 4,440 feet, and COM
handing a fine view Of Pele's frey re-.
gIons. 1t is sheltered on the north by
low ridge, covered with a dense growth
of woods IN which roam the wild hogs,
sheep, cattle, ETC., which supply the
table with meat,
l. is needless to say the proprietor
was promptly on hand to give US a
hearty welcome, having in the prospe2-l
tive good, fat fees to be charged to our
account, and actuated, perhaps, by the
no less selfish motive of having some
one TO watch the old year out with him,
for neighbors he has none except the
fantastic gods of Hawaiian, myth
ology who people the ''Sua Pele". Pit of
PeleO He was soon on hand to guide
US down into the crater; and, having
provided ourselves with stout sticks to-
sound our way, we began the descent.
You who have conceived of q volcano as
a huge cone belching forth its showers
of rocks and streams of lava into lie
air, amid clouds of smoke and terrific
thunderings now lay aside your former
conceptions. The "Sua Pele" is an an
omaly-is, as the name implies, pit
and such pit! ks